NJDOT announces major Interstate 80 roadway rehabilitation in Parsippany-Troy HillsInterchanges with I-287 and Route 202 to be upgraded as well

(Trenton) - New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) Commissioner James Simpson today announced the start of a major rehabilitation project to address approximately four linear miles of eastbound and westbound travel lanes on Interstate 80 in Parsippany-Troy Hills, Morris County.

The $73 million project will completely rehabilitate and improve I-80 between the Route 202/Littleton Road interchange (milepost 41.5) and the Beverwyck Road interchange (milepost 45.6), a very busy stretch of highway with an average of 159,000 vehicles traveling it daily. NJDOT will also reconfigure the I-80 eastbound exit ramp to both directions of I-287, as well as the Route 202 northbound ramp to I-80 eastbound to provide safer and more efficient traffic flow throughout the corridor.

“This project will benefit tens of thousands of New Jersey residents every day and exemplifies NJDOT’s commitment to safety and state-of-good-repair investments,” Commissioner Simpson said. “Under Governor Christie’s leadership, NJDOT will continue to prioritize projects to ensure that we make the best use of resources as we renew and rebuild our network of roads and bridges which serve as the circulatory system of our economy.”

NJDOT’s contractor, Union Paving & Construction Co., began initial construction layout, including sign installation and site mobilization last week. This Friday, August 10, the contractor will begin paving the roadway shoulders and setting up a new construction zone on the I-80 eastbound exit ramp to both directions of I-287.

NJDOT is scheduled to begin reconstruction of mainline I-80 later this month. The highway will be reconstructed in stages to minimize impacts to motorists.

• All I-80 travel lanes will remain open in each direction during peak-period hours throughout construction.
• Single and double-lane closures will be allowed during overnight and off-peak hours.

The existing roadway is deteriorated and in need of a complete rehabilitation. The contractor will employ a process known as rubblization, which can cut construction time. Rubblization involves a machine that crushes the old road pavement into small pieces so that it can easily be paved over. The new pavement is designed to last up to 30 years.

Deck patching, joint-sealing and guide rail repair will take place at two I-80 exit ramp overpasses and new Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) fiber-optic cables will be installed within the project limits. Construction is scheduled for completion by the end of 2014.

NJDOT is making a significant effort to minimize the traffic impacts associated with the upcoming construction through public outreach and safety initiatives. NJDOT is coordinating the project with local police and emergency response units. Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) will be utilized to provide real-time work zone traffic information to motorists.

The Department will also begin construction on a large-scale resurfacing project to address seven miles of Interstate 287 in Morris County later this month. The limits of the two projects overlap at the 80/287 interchange, but the construction is being coordinated to ensure that the projects will not impact or interfere with each other.

The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors. In the case of rain Friday night, the work would begin next week. Motorists are encouraged to check www.511nj.org for real-time travel information.

This area has been a focus of infrastructure improvement in recent years as the Department just completed a $6.4 million bridge deck replacement on I-80 over I-287 northbound and Smith Road last month. In late-2010 NJDOT completed an almost $10 million project which realigned the ramp from I-80 westbound onto I-287 northbound, the ramp from I-287 northbound onto I-80 westbound and the ramp from Littleton Road to I-287 northbound